Journalist fined for height jibe against Giorgia Meloni

An Italian court has directed journalist Giulia Cortese to compensate Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni €5000 ($5,400) for an insulting message about her height on a social media platform.

This incident, deemed body-shaming by the court, occurred in October 2021. ”Aside from the damages, Cortese was also ordered to pay €1,200 ($1,300) in suspended fine for the said remark she posted on Twitter, now known as X.

Cortese responded to the verdict on X, stating that “Italy’s government has a serious problem with freedom of expression and journalistic dissent. ” The legal conflict between Meloni and Cortese started three years ago when the two women crossed swords on social media.

A year ago, Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party was in opposition. Meloni sued Cortese when, for instance, he published a doctored photograph of Meloni alongside a picture of Mussolini. 

Cortese continued to engage in further tweets, one of which stated: “You don’t scare me, Giorgia Meloni, any way you are 1. 2 meters (4 feet) tall I can’t even see you.” 

Meloni’s height varies according to various media outlets, ranging from 1. 53 centimeters (5. 2 millimeters) and 1. 63 metres which is equal to 5 feet 4 inches.

Cortese has the right to appeal the sentence, and Meloni’s attorney stated that any amount paid to the victims would be directed to organisations. 

In English on X, Cortese noted the plight of independent journalists in Italy adding that ‘hopefully, there will be better days in the future’. Reporters Without Borders pointed out that 122 journalists faced legal proceedings in Italy and the country was down to 46th in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index. 

Meloni is infamous for initiating legal proceedings against the journalists. In 2021, Saviano, one of the best-selling authors in Italy, deprived her of her dignity, and a Rome court subsequently ordered him to pay €1,000 ($1,088) and legal fees.